Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs: Game 1 Score, Highlights and Analysis

In what will go down as one of the most exciting playoff games in recent history, the San Antonio Spurs overcame a near-20-point deficit at home in the final few minutes of regulation to eventually defeat the Golden State Warriors in two overtimes.

A last-second shot from Manu Ginobili ultimately handed the Spurs the victory, 129-127, in the opener of the teams' second-round series.

Ginobili scored 16 points, while Tony Parker led the late push, scoring 28 points alongside eight rebounds and eight assists. Tim Duncan contributed with 19 points, as did Danny Green with 22 of his own. Stephen Curry led the way for the Warriors with 44 points.

The Spurs began the game slowly and sluggishly—most likely attributable to rust and their extended rest following their four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. The Warriors took advantage of their struggling opponents, exploding out of the gate to gain early momentum.

However, the Spurs soon countered Golden State's hot start, following Manu Ginobili's lead as they cut the deficit within three following the end of the first quarter, and four at the end of the half.

The second half began as the first ended, with both teams trading baskets. No matter how hard the Spurs pushed, however, they remained at the tail of Golden State, who enjoyed another dominant third quarter on the shoulders of Curry and Klay Thompson.

Even when Danny Green found his shot, the Warriors had an answer, though San Antonio remained within reach.

And then Stephen Curry happened.

Reminiscent of his incredible third-quarter in Game 4 against Denver, Curry scored 22 of his 44 points in the third, single-handedly leading a 16-2 run to extend Golden State's lead to 12 heading into the final quarter.

The final 12 minutes of action began similarly to the first 12, with San Antonio struggling on all cylinders. And then—almost as miraculous as Curry's third quarter—the Spurs began to score.

Despite the absence of Tim Duncan—who exited for the locker room after 34 minutes of action due to flu-like symptoms—the team closed out the final three minutes with an outstanding run, bringing the game within three.

The comeback was completed following a Danny Green three, and a Curry miss took the game to extra time.

With two minutes left in overtime, the Spurs took the lead for the first time since the opening possession, but the Warriors tied it up and the two teams subsequently went into a second overtime.

Despite a sequence of errors, Manu Ginobili came through in the clutch, hitting the game-winning three to give the Spurs the early advantage in the series.

Twitter Reaction

Like the Heat, the Spurs began the game slowly.

You can already clearly tell the difference in rhythm between these two teams.